The Portrait Of The Leadership In The Movie Backdraft - Essay Example

The Portrait Of The Leadership In The Movie Backdraft The film backdraft has a lot of insight in the current world of leadership. The firefighters have worked on a very risky career that put their live on the edge. In the film we can borrow a leaf on how to organize ourselves to couple with many challenges that face the human race, both as individuals and as corporate bodies (DuBrin 10). This has been clearly outlined in the film back draft, from the time the siren is on the time that fire goes down. How can leaders show their determination? Determination is the key factor that has been portrayed well in the whole film. The firefighters have demonstrated inspiration that our leader can great learn. It is a matter of turning ones antennae to things that interests an individual. The most effective ways that leaders can convey their messages is through past experiences that form the human history. This can said in form of stories (DuBrin 18). This stories form parables that draw an inner message that can inspire the junior staffs in an organization or even the political leaders. More and more staff members are always looking for inspiration from their line managers. What characteristics should leaders portray? From the Film backdraft, John ‘Axe’ Adocox (Glenn) is a character full of inspiration. In the scene 4 (25:13) he demonstrate is art of life and the way he takes control of this life threatening career in firefighting. The good control he has on Engine 17. The way he is tactful in breaking on top of the roof such that ones the fire engine is up and running the foam would go directly killing the fire (DuBrin 40). Leaders need to borrow this tactics in dealing with hot issues in their organizations. It is clear that running away from the problem does not solve the problem either. It’s our leader’s responsibility to fight the problem head on. In the scene (43:14), Stephen ‘Bull’ McCaffrey (Russell) is the most elderly and experienced person as seen in the film. The vast knowledge he has towards firefight has brought yields in solving the mess in this fire in Chicago. He is a true role model in the great mind and courage he has to keep on fighting with this bad master the fire (DuBrin 43). It is a lesson that will remain in books of history that fire is a good servant but a bad master. What the responsibilities of the leaders? The metaphor here is that, when our leaders take this noble responsibilities it their duty to maintain calmness in the areas that matter most. This can give our political leaders a reason to sit back and rethinking on what they do preach. The community can go into frames, race against race due to poor leadership skills (DuBrin 50). Lack of harmony can bring wars that can cripple economies and cause unnecessary loss of lives and property. Leaders need to the examples where the society can emulate. If the do happen to notice any missing link they need to take affirmative action and in nice words caution the society on the dangers of certain actions. Extending the hand of help to dying situations would be the most gratifying and rewarding scenarios in the good leadership. In the scene 7 (1:45:16) Helen McCaffrey (De Mornay) is Stephen’s worried wife. She is the mother of their son Sean. She has been estranged in the Stephen’s determination and dedication in the firefighting industry. The risks he has been taking on his career (DuBrin 52). She is torn in between living Stephen or to hang on. She later decides the abandon Stephen for the sake of her and the son’s safety issues. In this scenario she solely relies on her instincts and leaves (DuBrin 70). If she might have consulted deeply she might have had a better decision. It’s the responsibility of our leaders to create an atmosphere that would strike a balance between work and social life. In this case Stephen would have managed to salvage his family. What are the motives, traits and characteristics of a leader? In any working environment differences are bound to occur. In the firefighting industry is not an exemption either. In the film Scene 4 (56:06) the quarrels that a rise from opening the gate that brew of the gasoline into flames could not be avoided. The diplomatic way of handling issues ones the go wrong, is mostly dependent on how good the leader can be able to communicate the issue in a sound mind (DuBrin 72). At times it might look as if it’s an organized confusion. The leaders in this case need that extra stamina to handle delicate details with utmost care. Leaders have a great role in balancing their career and their social life too. In the scene 8 (1:45:02) Martin Swayzak (Walsh) is having high hopes he get elected as a mayor in the Chicago City Council. There is a challenge of making concrete decision in cutting the new budget in the fire department. The decision seems to put the life of other firefighters in danger. It needs a lot of dedications moreover when making decisions that can affect other people’s lives. The crew members need to be involved in such cases that might need a constructive dialogue between all the stake holders. This can bring unbelievable results. It vital therefore to take caution on areas that touch the core business where critical decisions are to be made. Meetings and regular retreats can harmonize the whole organization (DuBrin 81). How important is leadership? Leadership is critical in any given business organization. The business set up needs to have the right form of leadership for the business to realize in full growth potential and achieve more gratifying results. The most successful businesses have exceptional and very effective leaders. The personnel who have been given these opportunities need to have very good interpersonal communication skills and show a lot of humility (DuBrin 84). The leaders need to give credit to their respective teams for their success. In the film ‘backdraft’ Stephen should have received credit on the fact that he was so determined in fulfilling his calling. He managed to fight without fear of the challenges that faced him in the line of duty (DuBrin 90). As a leader one should never promote himself and should await the teams praise. Seeking attention in the work place can be humiliating if no returned favors are received. The leader should always show sense of being sensitive in the way they give bad news and critics. How should leaders handle bad news? It’s also good to for the leaders to learn to be the experts in their technical field, It’s also helps them understand what other junior employees go through in terms of handling the challenges they face at their work place. This will assist the leaders in being in a position to motivate other workmates. In the film Stephen is one of the character that leader can borrow a leaf. In scene 6 (1:18:12), he confronts Adcox about the most deadly backdrafts during the multiple-alarms during the fire at a chemical plant. The shocking news when Adcox admitted that he had set the fire to kill associates of Swayzak. He dug the reasons as to why this was happening and got a heart breaking answer that Swayzak was benefiting from the deaths of firefighters. Such bad new should be communicated with diligent care to third parties. Works Cited DuBrin, Andrew J. Leadership: Research Findings, Practice and Skills. Mason, OH: Cengage Learning, 2012. Print. Read More